With office coffee service revenues growing over 4 percent annually the last 8 years, operators want to learn all they can about the segment. It meant hundreds flocking to New Orleans this week to attend NAMA’s annual show dedicated to OCS -- Coffee, Tea, and Water 2018. This three-day event was an ideal place to look at and ask about the trending products and equipment driving OCS revenues today and those poised to expand sales in the future. Here is your 2018 CTW rundown.
Bean-to-cup brewers
With many operators reporting bean-to-cup (B2C) brewers as the fastest growing single-cup segment of their business, it was a must on the CTW take away list. There were plenty to see including the Bravilor Bonamat’s Esprecious 22, Cafection's Encore29 and BUNN’s Sure Immersion. Well known bean to cup maker De Jong Duke hosted a discussion on the advantages and challenges of bean-to-cup coffee service. Klarc Snowden, entrepreneur; coffee service innovator, director of national accounts & strategic partnerships at De Jong DUKE said "There are five strategic elements of a successful bean to cup venture: Technical proficiency, financial creativity, bold pricing, differentiation, and passion." He went into detail about how he used these five strategies to build his successful bean-to-cup program and how others could as well.
Cold brew solutions
From batch cold brew dispensing equipment to ready-to-drink nitro infused cans, the $700 million industry was well represented. For use in pantry service or office coffee service solutions, Service Ideas offered its new Cold Brew 'N' Serve System -- an all-in-one cold brew coffee maker and dispenser than maintains a sanitary and mess-free system through minimal handling.
Cold brew in liquid form was a highlight from Heartland Food Products which offered attendees samples of its Java House(R) Authentic Cold Brew, a single-serve amount of cold brew sealed in a pod that is shelf stable and meant to be used in a Keurig brewer. For the RTD variety, Rise Brewing Co. raised the cold brew stakes with a Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Oat Milk Latte -- a newcomer to its existing line of canned cold brews for OCS and a trending plant-based cold brew flavor. High Brew, Chameleon, Stok, Wandering Bear and others presented their RTD cold brews as convenient options for operators as well.
Non-traditional futures
With an ever-expanding range of drinks and customization available to consumers, they want more. It’s influencing the future of OCS with more non-traditional coffee solubles and drink offerings. Danone Wave was at CTW 2018 spotlighting its Silk dairy-free vanilla creamer and Bulletproof Coffee was offering a RTD option that included its unique grass-fed butter ingredient. Meal replacement company Soylent exhibited, riding the functional food trend beginning to take shape in OCS.
Mark L. DiDomenico, director, customer solutions, of Datassential shared consumer behaviors and preferences for coffee and tea during CTW, including some of these non-traditional trends. The creamer used most often in brewed coffee by consumers is unflavored. From additional questions, Datassential also uncovered that consumers are very interested in plant-based creamers. This is a promising upcoming trend. DiDomenico also suggested that operators could use new additives and flavors to differentiate themselves and make their OCS an unique experience no one else has. It requires thinking of upcoming flavors, such as desserts or functional ingredients, as well as creating a partnership with a coffee program, but it can produce results. He has seen it work with chain restaurants he works with.
CTW 2018 was record breaking in the number of exhibitors, according to NAMA CEO Carla Balakgie. It buzzed with excitement as operators tasted and learned about coffee and tea options that can enhance their business. Bean-to-cup stole the show, but cold brew was a close second. The big talk was about trends, from tea to non-traditional flavors and foods that will be in high demand by younger consumers at work.
